Live Chat with Claudine Hellmuth - Transcript 12/11/2008

Collage Artist, Claudine Hellmuth chatted with Studio Calico members on December 11, 2008. We chatted about her products, techniques, available tutorials, studio, future product releases, and appearance on the Martha Stewart show...plus much more.

Below is the transcript of the event.

claudinehellmuth: hi everyone!
Kimber-Leigh: hi Claudine!
Scarlet: As soon as I hit “enter” I knew I had made a mistake!
claudinehellmuth: No problem! I get lots of variations on my name!
Kimber-Leigh: my spelling has gone downhill since I discovered message boards scarlet :)
brains32192: no worries...i type too fast to watch for typos, lol
Kimber-Leigh: me three :)
Kimber-Leigh: would you believe i sometimes edit my typos? it's the old english teacher in me!
Scarlet: i edit too
Kimber-Leigh: glad i'm not alone!
Scarlet: unfortunately i can't edit here
April Foster: Claudine, I'll start with a question
claudinehellmuth: OK!
April Foster: We have your whole line available here, but for those who want to start small, what 3 colors would you choose?
claudinehellmuth: hmmm!! good question! My favorites are Modern Red, Yellow Pastel and then Classic Teal
April Foster: Do those mix well (say, in your mixing tutorial?)
Scarlet: i think modern red and altered orange are my favorites :)
April Foster: In the spirit of sneaks (in a couple days) I would say that all 3 that Claudine mentioned would match your next kit well ;)
claudinehellmuth: those mix well with the other colors rather than themselves. if you mix Sky Blue with the yellow pastel you do get a nice green and then modern red with the yellow pastel you get a great orange.
April Foster: similar to the altered orange?
claudinehellmuth: for mixing my favorite is the Sky blue with the classic teal because it makes an amazing cobalt teal color
April Foster: ooooh, good tip
claudinehellmuth: kind of but more saturated orange than Altered Orange
Scarlet: oh, i need to try that! i haven't mixed any colors yet... they're already so pretty as-is!
claudinehellmuth: Scarlet thank you!! the thing is mixing them is so easy so then you end up with more colors! which is great!!
April Foster: I have a question about using the sticky-back canvas as the entire background of a LO
claudinehellmuth: OK!
April Foster: on my "Going Country" layout in the Dec gallery, I used an entire sheet of the 12x12 as the background to my LO. I put a wash of the sable brown on, but it caused the canvas to curl
claudinehellmuth: yes yes
April Foster: so, I adhered it to a piece of chipboard, but if I had put gesso on the canvas first, would that have prevented the curling?
What is your advice for using the entire sheet as the background of a LO?
claudinehellmuth: no not really any type of water based media will make it curl up. it's jsut the nature of the canvas
but what you did is what i would have suggested
one painted and dried then adhere it to the chipboard
the original idea was for it to be a supplement to the LOs and not a whole background, we are thinking of adding non-sticky versions that would make a better whole background
April Foster: oooh! I like that idea
claudinehellmuth: so i think if you want it to be your whole background i would definitely stick it to a surface like chipboard
Kimber-Leigh: me too!
April Foster: so, is this an unofficial announcement that you will have a product line extension at winter CHA?
claudinehellmuth: i wish! i takes forever to get new stuff in the line, but if you guys all come to the booth and ask for non sticky backgrounds
Scarlet: me too! can you suggest some other ways to use the sticky-back canvas, claudine?
claudinehellmuth: i will have some pull ;) Scarlet, I made a pin with it and have a tutorial on my blog
April Foster: and houses
claudinehellmuth:
I also use it to add elements to my artwork, paint it and stain it
claudinehellmuth: yes and the houses!
April Foster: curtains on the windows, so cute
claudinehellmuth: the neat thing is you can curl it and it will hold the shape so i made dimensional flowers that are giant
April Foster: we had rip strips recently in our Nov kit.
claudinehellmuth: and in my studio
April Foster: Is the canvas easy to rip in straight lines?
I would think you could make your own pattern on the canvas, then rip away
claudinehellmuth:
hmm i don't know! I haven't tried to rip it in straight lines!
Scarlet: i loved the flower make-and-takes at CHA. that totally sold us on the canvas and paints
claudinehellmuth: thank you!
i am so into the flowers, i wanted to do them again as the MITI at CHA but we can't do the same one twice
April Foster: I'm wondering if anyone here (besides Scarlet and myself) has had a chance to play around with the paint?
Nichoda: I haven't had a chance, but am looking forward to doing so
stella: I have played with it and the glossy medium! Love them both
April Foster: I really love the thickness of it, yet it spreads so easily
claudinehellmuth: oh thank you. we worked hard on that part!
stella: I like that you can mix it, just as much as you need to make a ton of new colors
Davinie: I've been away, but wanted to pop in and express my love for the canvas.
Scarlet: i love that it comes in a tub instead of having to squeeze it out of a bottle :)
April Foster: i'm wondering if the best way to use it is to just take the top off the jar
claudinehellmuth: I am working on a Chrismas decoration tutorial that i hope to post on my blog with the Sticky back. If all goes well this weekend and I can work on it
April Foster: and leave it open for a good length of time
Davinie: i cut it into tiny pieces and it was really easy and very durable, so I'm a big fan!
April Foster: or, if it's better to dump some out and seal it up quickly so it keeps that good consistency longer
claudinehellmuth: Davinie thank you!
claudinehellmuth: April i leave the top off while I am working but it's not a good idea to leave it off for hours and hours
Davinie: :)
Davinie: That's a good question April.
claudinehellmuth: mostly i just place the top lightly back on when i know i am taking the dog out etc
Nichoda: Do you have examples of the CHA make and take flowers on your blog?
claudinehellmuth: Nichoda I have a version of them on my blog with the hero arts tutorial
Davinie: There was a picture of us doing that make-n-take on the Studio blog too
claudinehellmuth: if you scroll down to the bottom of the first page "Hero Arts Tutorial":http://www.claudinehellmuth.blogspot.com/2008/12/hero-arts-card-brooch-tutorial.html
April Foster: Now that Davinie is back, I can ask the question about the Slice. The canvas does not work with it, but is there a die-cut machine that you suggest?
Davinie: yes, I tried to slice it.
Davinie: no dice on the slice, lol
Nichoda: Thanks Claudine
claudinehellmuth: I use the Sizzix machine, Pazzel also worked at CHA. I also use the Cuttle bug to emboss it. yummy!!
Davinie: emboss! Fabulous!
Kimber-Leigh: thanks april!
claudinehellmuth: shame about the slice. I have yet to try it on all the machines
claudinehellmuth: at CHA we were running around the booths and seeing if they would let us try it
claudinehellmuth: I just have the Sizzix big shot here, works great
Nichoda: The flowers are wonderful.
Davinie: have you run it through a printer?
claudinehellmuth: yes! it works great through the printer
April Foster: off-topic question....when you're creating, do you listen to music, tv, or create in silence?
claudinehellmuth: love it! Tim Holtz also did a tutorial on his blog with it too
Davinie: Ooh. I'm excited about printing on it.
claudinehellmuth: April, i listen to NPR I like all the shows like This American Life etc
a lot of podcasts too
April Foster: i know, i'm thinking of ideas now. Tina typed on it with a typewriter in the Dec gallery
claudinehellmuth: like Crafty Pod and Craft Cast
claudinehellmuth: oh wow!!! so cool
April Foster: i like listening to talk, too....keeps my brain working :)
Kimber-Leigh: oooh...excited about the printer! (we just got a new one!)
April Foster: She also made a cool pocket/portfolio thingy. You'll have to check it out
claudinehellmuth: oh yes!! as soon as this week is over I will be able to have more time. i can't wait to see all these great ideas!
Scarlet: does anyone else have questions? jump right in!
April Foster: i have a ton ..... :)
claudinehellmuth: will you guys be at CHA??
Nichoda: How did you like meeting Martha?
claudinehellmuth: OMG it was amazing! Loved it. Being on Live TV was scary!!
Davinie: ooh. that's a good one denise.
April Foster: Denise, you did not just ask that! I was thinking of asking the same question!!!!
April Foster: how was the actual production of the show?
Scarlet: yes, many of us will be at CHA
Davinie: did you actually spend time with martha, or were you talking to her "people" most of the time
Nichoda: I had to know. :o)
April Foster: tell us all the details :)
claudinehellmuth: I hope to get on again. I am still trying. we'll see, if it's meant to be!
Davinie: i have always wondered if martha is martha, or if martha is just more of a figurehead now and someone else is doing all the martha
claudinehellmuth: The only time I spent with her was on the actual show where you see me, since it was a live show you don't get to chat before or after because she's in commercials then, so you say a quick hi and then you do your thing
Davinie: gotcha
April Foster: interesting. so you met her the first time on air?
April Foster: oops, i was typing when you answered
claudinehellmuth: oh she does it. she definitely approves the projects that go on the show
Nichoda: I would have stuttered through the whole thing and then oohed and ahhed over her punches.
Davinie: lol
Kimber-Leigh: :) denise
claudinehellmuth: well the producers tell you that's up to YOU to stay on time and to keep her from going off topic
Davinie: ooh. interesting.
Kelly Noel: claudine, what's your studio/workspace like?
April Foster: that is interesting
claudinehellmuth: which was the most scary part to me, what would i do if she started talking about her day or something!
Davinie: so martha can be chitty chatty.
i actually like her better now. lol
Davinie: ha ha ha
Davinie: yes, tell us about your studio!
claudinehellmuth: oh totally, they warned me a million times not to let her get off topic!
claudinehellmuth: my studio is now in our apartment in DC
we moved her in August when paul got a new job and so it's the 2nd bedroom
claudinehellmuth
here's a link! "Claudine's Studio":http://www.flickr.com/photos/claudinehellmuth/sets/72157606838120511/
April Foster: i love that your studio is in "your" colors
claudinehellmuth: thankfully the apartment that we rented didn't have horrible colors on the walls. They actually go with our stuff really well!
April Foster: oh, so you didn't have to paint it? that's lucky!
claudinehellmuth: so this was a totally different set up from what I had at our house in FL
Kimber-Leigh: i love the inspiration board :)
Davinie: that's a big transition, florida to DC
claudinehellmuth: we went from a 1700 sq ft house to a 700 sq ft apartment
April Foster: ouch
Kelly Noel: it's so neat and clean! please tell me it doesn't always look that way! ;)
claudinehellmuth: yeah! but it's working out. i like the city and getting used to the weather
Davinie: it can't! she cuts paper into bits! lol
Nichoda: Yikes! That is a huge change in SF
claudinehellmuth: oh no! that was when i first set it up! LOL! but i do keep it tidy
Kelly Noel: that's what i was thinking, dav ;)
joy madison: :)
claudinehellmuth: when you live in a small space i think it motivates you to stay tidy!
April Foster: i know you ladies have got to have questions :)
claudinehellmuth: right now it's a mess because i have been working so much
i can't wait to tidy it up!
April Foster: Tell us about how you first made art your career
joy madison: are you enjoying D.C.? Have you gone around to any of the sites yet?
I grew up in the d.c. area, and LOVE it there.
April Foster: oops, sorry joy....i guess you can answer whichever one you want, Claudine :)
claudinehellmuth
yes loving DC we have been to the National Portrait Gallery a lot I love it there!
sophiarhiannon: I'd like to know more about how you use the Multi-Medium Matte and Glossy :)
claudinehellmuth: April thats a good questin! it sort of happened over time, but i really took the leap when I got layed off from my job in 2001
April Foster: so what did you do before art?
claudinehellmuth: Sophia- I really use it mostly as my glue when I am collaging
April Foster: Sophia, do you mean, how does she use them differently from one another?
claudinehellmuth: I have some tutorials I'll find for you!
sophiarhiannon: Sure, that too April :)
April Foster: That is a good question....How do you decide whether to use glossy or matte?
sophiarhiannon: do you also seal over pics, paper, etc?
Nichoda: I was wondering that too.
claudinehellmuth: well i don't use the glossy a whole lot. I am a big fan of the matte but we thought people would want glossy so we made the glossy. but I do like how shiny it makes things! Like embossing without the work!
claudinehellmuth: yeah I use it to seal etc, glue objects buttons scrabble tiles and dominoes etc
I like that you can glue papers and small objets with it
sophiarhiannon: do you have to worry about it bubbling up like you do with mod podge?
claudinehellmuth: you can also mix it with your paint to make a glaze
April Foster: explain how it differs from Mod Podge, please
April Foster: sophia, you and i are thinking alike, tonight :)
sophiarhiannon: thanks, April!
claudinehellmuth: sophia you do have to be careful for bubble like with any wet glue. i actually did a gluing tutorial here, i'll get the link "Gluing Tutorial":http://tinyurl.com/6zu4mv
*christiew*: do you apply your multi mediums and paints with your brushes? or do you use something else?
Kimber-Leigh: great question christie...i wondered that too!
April Foster: i love that question christie
I need to know what kind of brush too (foam, bristle, etc)?
claudinehellmuth: Christie I use the brushes. sometimes my fingers too!!
*christiew*: i was thinking about the brushes sold in the SC shop... is that what you use, claudine?
claudinehellmuth: April, I use my brushes, I like that they are synthethic and they don't lose the brush hairs, but they are cheap enough you don't feel bad about mistreating them!
claudinehellmuth: yeah the CH Studio Brush set? that's what I use!
April Foster: i totally agree about the price-point of the brushes
*christiew*: ohhh good to know that the hairs don’t come off....that really annoys me!
claudinehellmuth: i love that! I told Ranger, here's what the brush need to do and i want it cheap
April Foster: i posted at least 100 threads about the price being so reasonable and the quality being so good for the price
claudinehellmuth: i leave mine in my water jar ALL the time and they still don't have the hairs fall out
claudinehellmuth: oh thank you!!
sophiarhiannon: so, when you mix the glossy with a paint color to get the glaze how much of the glossy do you add?
claudinehellmuth: I was also very important they be synthetic for the animals and everything!!
ahardy: So great to know about the brushes ... Will buy ASAP!
April Foster: BTW, for those interested in purchasing Claudine's line, if you want to save on shipping by having it shipped with your next kit, you can, just email info@studiocalico.com for details
claudinehellmuth: sophia I eyeball it, like 60% gloss to 40% paint less paint if you want more transparency
sophiarhiannon: thanks!
claudinehellmuth: you can control how transparent you make the paint by how much medium you add to it
April Foster: on the houses that you made, did you mix the paint to make a glaze or just straight paint?
claudinehellmuth: that was just stright paint on the houses! the paints are already a little transparent for the color mixing aspect
ahardy: i LOVED your houses claudine!
claudinehellmuth: thank you so much! those were fun!!
kemmycake: sorry I was just wondering how this works... think i figured it now :P
ahardy :D
April Foster: Can you explain how you did the ornaments that are in the SC gallery? Specifically, how you printed the faces of your cute animals and on what medium? You didn't print them on canvas, so did you print them on regular photo paper
claudinehellmuth: Sure! I printed the faces onto just plain printer paper and then I cut them out and glued them to the back of the plexi using the Multi Medium. then I painted the back so it would look like the paint was behind them
the nice thing about the medium is it dries clear so you can glue to the back of the plastic w/o it showing
April Foster: back to martha...so did she just call you out of the blue, or did you "apply" to be on the show?
claudinehellmuth: I added the little sparkle elements to the front of the plexi for extra dimension
*christiew*: that sounds great!!! drying clear is such a perk. :)
claudinehellmuth: for martha one of her producers found my blog through the blog Decor8
and then her producer emailed me and then i had to put a giant package together
and race around like a crazy person
April Foster: very neat...i bet you were surprised when you got that email
claudinehellmuth: then I waited 4 months and I heard back they wanted me on the show in 10 days and could I do it
claudinehellmuth: OMG you have no idea I was over the moon excited
then I got scared everytime I watched the show [before I was on]
wondering if i would be able to do it
claudinehellmuth: I got so many knots in my stomach!
April Foster: can you tell us how you made the move to the scrapbooking market?
[Claudine accidentally left the chat]
April Foster: uh-oh
ahardy: whoops!
Scarlet: wow, it got really quiet in here
Nichoda: Want me to sing?
April Foster: Claudine come back to us :)
*christiew*: lol :)
ahardy: whadaya gonna sing?
ahardy: Baby Come Back ...
Nichoda: Good one!
April Foster: i'm listening to JT now....Nik H eat your heart out
ahardy: booty shakin' JT or mellow JT?
kemmycake: I don't really get it, other than using the gel medium as a glue, what else could it be use as?
*christiew*: lol april
claudinehellmuth: we'll see if maybe I can get on again. you never know. it's hard though!
ahardy: THERE she is! Phew!
April Foster: yay
*christiew*: yay, she's back!
joy madison: phew:)
claudinehellmuth: oops I clicked on someone’s profile and it made me leave!
Nichoda: My singing worked!
joy madison :)
April Foster: Claudine, I was going to ask you how you made the move to the scrapbooking market?
what made you want to tackle this industry?
claudinehellmuth: LOL! so sorry about that! I am all sweaty I was worried how to get back!
claudinehellmuth: let's see scrapbooking! I think mostly what started was that the Scrapbooking audience was drawn to my work
April Foster: kemmycake also asked about using the gel medium as something other than glue...i think you said mix it with paint to add glaze, but is there any other options for it?
April Foster: via your blog?
claudinehellmuth: and so they started it by liking my work and I then I started seeing what a cool industry it as in how many great supplies and things it has to offer
kemmycake: thanks April :)
claudinehellmuth: sense of community etc
claudinehellmuth: yes my blog and through my custom artwork orders
claudinehellmuth: kemmy cake you can also use the medium as a resisit on the sticky back canvas and on papers
April Foster: very cool, your work is distinct and I can see why it's admired by artsy scrappers :)
claudinehellmuth: I have a tutorial in this video at the end
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKX_iSAWukA
claudinehellmuth: the video is kinda long and the resist tech is toward the end
Nichoda: Just watched the resist video. Awesome!
April Foster: so, about future product lines.....at winter CHA, will you be adding anything? or should we look for more at summer CHA?
kemmycake: GREAT thanks Claudine!!!
ahardy: oooh yes! CHA scoop!
claudinehellmuth: April I am shooting for Summer (fingers crossed) if it were up to me it would be at Winter but there are lots of things to work out etc
claudinehellmuth: I do have more ideas!!
April Foster: please share, we can keep secrets
Nichoda: Yes we can!
April Foster: these ladies like clues ;)
claudinehellmuth: Ranger really wants to make sure this part of the line is successful before adding and that totally makes sense!
April Foster: i think it's been successful b/c your matte medium was sold out at one point
claudinehellmuth: oh yay!!
snowbirds: I just wanna say I received my paints today... I bought 12 colors, they are awesome!
claudinehellmuth: i didn't know that!
ahardy: hopefully SC & us crazy ladies will help you out claudine! :D
claudinehellmuth: snowbirds, thank you!
snowbirds ;o)
claudinehellmuth: yes thank you so much! thank you for making your cool projects with them. I am always happy to link from my blog to your blogs if you do projects and also to Studio Calico
April Foster: do you think you could make your paint colors into something like the glimmer mists in a spray bottle?
or into stamp pads.....
claudinehellmuth: I am working a grass roots blog campaign
kemmycake: yes even around my area in the scrapbook store the medium matte went out that I have not chance getting one. How sad!
Nichoda: Love glimmer mist. Great idea, April!
claudinehellmuth: April I do think a spray bottle would be cool or some other type of application
April Foster: kemmy, it's in the store.....
claudinehellmuth: you can add the perfect pearls to it to make it glimmery
claudinehellmuth: or spray glimmer mist over it when it's dry too
April Foster: i saw that on your blog on the hero arts tutorial, right?
claudinehellmuth: yeah. shimmery goodnes!
claudinehellmuth: everyone ready for the holidays?
I'm not!
April Foster: pre-cut canvas shapes could be cool, too
claudinehellmuth: oh i know! I am trying to work on them on that idea
*christiew*: almost there! just a few more things to get to be done
April Foster: i need a 70% cut off the earnings from my ideas
ahardy: still in shock that it's just two weeks away! JUST started shopping. yipes!
claudinehellmuth: hee hee you got it!
claudinehellmuth: i know! and my b-day is next week. I turn 34. OMG!
April Foster: happy early b-day
Nichoda: Happy Birthday a bit early!
ahardy: claudine, did someone already ask if you can run the sticky back canvas through a typewriter?
*christiew*: yay happy early birthday, claudine!
claudinehellmuth: I think someone here did. I know you can print on it
ahardy: Hey. the 30's are the new 20's! :P
April Foster: okay, ladies, we have a few more minutes if you have any Q's
Nichoda: I think Tina typed on it.
claudinehellmuth: LOVE the typing idea
ahardy: thanks Nichoda!
*christiew*: i can't wait to try out my new paints - they just came today! :)
April Foster: did anyone here get the brushes besides me?
claudinehellmuth: yay!
April Foster: i know you did ;)
sophiarhiannon: I got them! :)
claudinehellmuth :)
April Foster: have you used them?
nanns01: Me! I got the brushes. Very excited about using them.
April Foster: let us know what you think......
Scarlet: me... i love them :)
*christiew*: i got them
sophiarhiannon: just got them last night when I got home
sophiarhiannon: haven't used them yet but will VERY soon :)
*Stacey*: I want them...maybe next month :)
April Foster: oh well, i was hoping for product feedback
snowbirds: bought them, but will come in my 2nd box I'm waiting
alissa_palm: got them, but no time to use the yet either...
claudinehellmuth: i love them when they look new, mine are all painty all over the handles
nanns01: I'm hoping to give them a try this weekend.
joy madison: we are hoarders here you know!
*christiew*: my box just arrived today, so no chance to try them out yet - i was out at the movies seeing twilight!
Nichoda: LOL! Yes, we are hoarders.
April Foster: do you advise not letting water touch the black part? or is it ok?
ahardy: TRUE that joy! LOL
claudinehellmuth: April I just throw them in a big jar of water, so i don't worry about it, but if you want to take really good care of them don't let water get over the top of the metal part
vtpuggirl: I got the white paint!
claudinehellmuth: mine have been sitting in water for months literally!
April Foster: Claudine, we have truly appreciated your time. Thank you so much for letting us ask all these questions and for sharing your expertise! Thanks most of all for the inspiration to try some new techniques!
Nichoda: Thanks for chatting, Claudine.
*Stacey*: Claudine, what's your favorite technique with paint?
sophiarhiannon: thanks, Claudine!
claudinehellmuth: thank you for having me!!
*Stacey*: Oh, I guess it's time to go!
April Foster: look at Stacey getting one last Q in before the buzzer
claudinehellmuth: Stacey hmmm good question
*christiew*: thank you so much - how fun!
claudinehellmuth: i think I like to do the paint with the vaseline from my fisrt book, that one is always fun fun!!
*Stacey*: thanks Claudine!
claudinehellmuth: thanks everyone! I am off to take Toby out for his walk!
Kimber-Leigh: thanks claudine!
snowbirds: thanks
kemmycake: thanks claudine :)
ahardy: Goodnight Everyone! Sweet Dreams!
*christiew*: stay warm there in DC (i am FL)!!!
claudinehellmuth: bye bye!! xoxox